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The Leftovers is a look at some of the product ideas that are popping up everywhere. Some are interesting, some sound amazing, and some are the kinds of ideas we would never dream of. We can’t write everything we suggest, so here are some leftover items from our inbox:
LifeWay launches probiotic butter
Kefir manufacturer Lifeway Foods is entering the premium butter segment with its latest launch.
The cultured dairy manufacturer is launching probiotic kefir butter, a “spreadable European-style cultured butter,” in 8-ounce tubs. This line comes in three options: unsalted, sea salt, and honey butter.
Demand for premium butters with higher fat content has surged over the past few years, starting with the pandemic that prompted more consumers to cook at home. The “Make America Healthy Again” movement has also put a spotlight on full-fat dairy products, with the Trump administration emphasizing this sector in its new dietary guidelines.
“With newly released dietary guidelines highlighting the trend toward cultured foods and high-quality full-fat dairy products, we see a significant opportunity to scale and innovate at the intersection of butter and kefir,” Julie Smolyansky, Lifeway’s president and CEO, said in a statement.
Sales of premium and super premium butter grew by double digits between 2024 and 2025, while sales of mainstream butter increased by 1.1%, according to NIQ data cited by Bloomberg.
Lifeway’s products capitalize on the butter boom while differentiating themselves from competitors by adding probiotics, another trending ingredient, especially among consumers taking GLP-1 for weight loss. Kefir contains a wider spectrum of probiotics than yogurt and may contribute to gut health and improved immunity.
Lifeway’s Kefir Butter is expected to launch in select retail and foodservice markets in 2026.
“Consumers are becoming more comfortable enjoying high-quality dairy fats again, and retailers are responding,” Smolyansky said. “These changes have opened up a meaningful void,” he added.
— Sarah Zimmerman
Modelo launches first non-alcoholic product
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Provided as a model
One of America’s best-selling beers has become non-alcoholic for the first time. .
Modelo presents Chelada Limon y Sal Non-Alcoholic, a ready-to-drink canned beverage that tastes like lime and salt chelada.
The Constellation Brands beverage contains 0.5% alcohol and 60 calories. The company is positioning its non-alcoholic beer as an example of innovation that meets customer needs while maintaining brand authenticity.
“People want choice without compromise, and Modelo Chelada Non-Alcoholic does just that,” Logan Jensen, Modelo’s vice president of brand marketing, said in a press release. “Limón y Sal has been a fan favorite in our ready-to-drink Chelada lineup for six years in a row, so it was an obvious choice for our first non-alcoholic launch.”
Chelada Limon y Sal non-alcoholic is available nationwide in 12-ounce six-packs.
As more consumers moderate their drinking, beer makers are taking advantage of the opportunity to offer non-alcoholic versions of classic drinks. Corona, also owned by the American company Constellation, launched its own non-alcoholic version three years ago.
These expansions have proven to be an easy way for beer companies to retain loyal customers, even if they want to drink less.
The latest data from IWSR shows that total alcohol volume has decreased by 19% since 2019, and by 4% in the first half of 2025 alone compared to the previous year.
Constellation Brands’ total revenue for the third quarter ended Nov. 30 was $2.2 billion, down 10% from a year ago. Despite this decline, management still said its beer business outperforms the rest of the industry.
—Laurel Deppen
Horizon Organic is a splash of creamer.
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Provided by Horizon Organic
Horizon Organic is expanding its dairy empire with the launch of a creamer.
The organic dairy giant is launching a dairy creamer made with just four ingredients: milk, cream, cane sugar and natural flavors. Horizon Organic Real Dairy Creamers are available in three flavors: Homestyle Vanilla, Chantilly Sweet Cream, and Golden Caramel.
Citing 2024 IRI retail sales data, Horizon said coffee creamers are the fastest-growing category in refrigerated dairy products, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 8.8% over the past four years. Last year, the data firm estimated that the refrigerated coffee creamer space was worth nearly $5 billion.
As more consumers make coffee at home, shoppers are increasingly looking for premium ingredients they can use to recreate the coffeehouse experience.
“Consumers can now enhance their everyday coffee experience with the rich, comforting flavor of this new creamer, while also feeling good about what they’re putting in their cup,” Andrew Springate, Horizon Organic’s chief marketing officer, said in a statement.
Horizon, which has been looking to expand into the healthier dairy sector, is the latest brand to enter the fast-growing coffee creamer segment.
Danone’s five-year-old Too Good & Co. first entered the creamer market last fall using a blend of low-sugar halo and real ingredients. And Greek yogurt company Chobani, which entered the space in 2019, now owns about 12% of the creamer segment with products that avoid artificial flavors, sweeteners or preservatives.
— Christopher Doering
